Lenoir-Rhyne Model United Nations takes on Paris

In March, members of the Lenoir-Rhyne Model United Nations club participated in their biggest conference since 2018. The team traveled to Paris for nine days to compete with students from around the world at the Harvard World Model United Nations Conference, hosted by Harvard University and the Interuniversitaire des Nations Unies de Paris.

“The Harvard conference has long deserved the reputation as the ‘Olympics’ of Model U.N. conferences, attracting students from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, South America and the United States. LR is one of the few U.S. schools to be invited and attend this year, so we are very proud of our students and our growing Model U.N. program at LR,” said Cynthia Combs, Ph.D., adjunct professor of political science and Model U.N. club sponsor.

Model U.N. chapter president, economics and business management major Kenzie Foyle ’23 said, “I am thrilled to share this opportunity with this club that has meant so much to these past four years. This was our biggest conference yet, an unforgettable experience where we performed really well.”

To prepare for this conference, students participated in Combs's global issues class, using much of the spring semester to research their topics while practicing Model U.N. procedures, gathering research and engaging in simulations for the Paris conference.

At the conference, Lenoir-Rhyne competed in three different categories: The International Monetary Fund, The Legal Acts and Issues Council, and the Economic and Social Council. Model U.N. member and finance major Rosie Weaver ’23 stated, “All the work that we put in during the past four months paid off. It was so rewarding to watch our ideas come to life and to collaborate with students from all around the world.”

The six students who participated in the conference performed exceptionally well within their committees, each one writing and sponsoring U.N. working papers, which are reviewed and submitted to the real U.N. for consideration.

While the conference was the main item on the itinerary for this trip, it was also an opportunity to experience Paris. Students’ air travel and ground transportation costs were minimal, thanks to scholarships provided through the William and Robert Shuford Center for International Education, and students enrolled in a six-week study abroad class where they learned about the French language and culture, preparing them to be respectful and savvy travelers.

Oscar Kelly ’23, Model U.N. team member and exercise science major, said, “A good understanding of the culture allows you to immerse yourself in a rich and authentic experience, which we could do because we were ready for that experience.”

The experience allowed Model U.N. students also to explore Paris and see the landmarks as well as daily life there. Outings were scheduled for students to visit the Eiffel Tower, Versailles and Le Parc des Princes soccer stadium, home of the Paris Saint-Germain football club. Foyle said, “All of the monuments and sights are so beautiful, Paris seems unreal.”

Each night, the Harvard delegation hosted a different event that allowed conference members to explore different aspects of world cultures. During the Global Village night, each participating school brought food and drinks from their home country for all other students to try. The Diplomatic Gala at the Louvre gave a students chance to interact with diplomats from around the world.

Micah Knight ’23, a Model U.N. member and economics major who will continue his international experience next year at a graduate program in Finland, said, “We don’t travel for comfort, we travel because we know the journey is worth the challenges.”